Looking Like Fall: A Recreation of Derek Lam Fall 2012 Runway Look.

October 1, 2012 | 28 Responses

Now that autumn is in finally in full swing, Xiao of Messy Wands and I thought it might be fun to try a look from the Fall 2012 campaigns and runway shows.

Derek Lam’s runway look was a breath of fresh air; it was a standout in a sea of bare eyes and red lip combos. Twiggyesque drawn-on lashes transformed the models into what Tom Pecheux called “twisted dolls.” The makeup and hair were meant to look a little grungy. My eyeshadow collection is sadly lacking a reddish burgundy colour that the models wore for this look, so my look leans more mauve and purply instead.

Derek Lam F2012 RTW Runway Look / source: Style.com

Glitter Geek’s Recreation of the Derek Lam Fall 2012 Runway Look

Get the Look

For the eyes, fill in the brows lightly with a matte taupe (MAC Coquette) eyeshadow. Start with a wash of matte beige (Mary Kay Golden Vanilla) all over the lid up to the brow bone. Then go in with a matte rosy brown eyeshadow (Yaby Rose Wood) all over the lid and along the lower lash line. Deepen the outer 1/3 of the lid with a shimmery burgundy (Mary Kay Truffle). Blend up into the crease. Deepen the outer corner further with a matte black eyeshadow (Yaby Abyss), and sketch a rounded shape on the outer corner and blend into the crease well. With a pointed liner brush, create fake doll lashes on the lower lid with a deep grey (Yaby Almost Black). Apply lots of mascara (L’Oreal Voluminous False Fibre Lashes) to top and bottom lashes.

For the cheeks, mix a bronzer (Guerlain Terracotta Light in 03 Brunettes) and a pink blush (shu uemura Glow On in Framboisier) and apply below the apples of the cheeks for a youthful blushed look.

For the lips, mix a doll like pink with sheer pink (MAC Lovelorn) and a nude beige (MAC Mattene in Delectable).

Other mentionables: I am wearing Giorgio Armani Maestro foundation in 5.5, which is sadly too light for me. It is such a dreamy foundation though, so I am making it work here with a dusting of the Guerlain bronzer all over the face. I also contoured the cheeks and nose with MAKE UP FOR EVER Sculpting Kit in #2.

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OMG You Need This! MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brow Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector Review, Photos, Swatches

July 3, 2012 | 61 Responses

Imagine you’re in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Zombies are trying to bash your front door in, but they haven’t discovered the back door (yet). You need to think fast: grab your absolute essential makeup to take with you, so that your friends and family cannot mistake you for a zombie. GO!

Concealer.

Lipstick.

Mascara.

Brow filler.

What’s that? You never fill in your brows? But why? Former makeup artist Jeremy Renner (!!!) agrees with me. This requires another (!!!).

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Properly groomed and filled in brows polishes and completes a makeup look, however simple or dramatic it is. I recently picked up MAKE UP FOR EVER Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector in No. 4 Dark Brown Black ($22) and damn! This is powerful stuff. I first read about and saw this product on gorgeous Jenny of My Funny Valentine. UPDATE: These are currently being phased out for the new Aqua Brows. It is the same formula with more shades. No. 4 Dark Brown Black is the same shade as Aqua Brow in #40 Brown Black.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brow Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector in No. 40

The eyebrow corrector is a creamy liquid formula. I put a very tiny dab of it on the back of my hand (you need less than you think), pick up the product with an angled liner/brow brush, then fill in my brows as usual. Be careful about shading in your brows; try to “stay within the lines” because this is difficult to take off without a makeup remover.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brow Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector in No. 40 Dark Brown Black

I usually fill in my brows with pencil and/or powder eyeshadow (click here to see my tutorial on how I fill in my eyebrows), but they no longer perform well for me when humidity and sweat is in the picture. Hello, that’s Toronto summer for you. I need my brow product to stay with me through my sweaty bike rides, and sometimes, rain. Today was one of those days. Insanely humid and I was a big ol’ sweat ball. This did not move at all. Perfect brows, baby! All day long.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector in No. 40 swatch

I actually wanted to buy the shade No. 3 Dark Ash Brown, but it was sold out. No. 4 Dark Brown Black is darker and cooler than No. 3. I went back to make the exchange, but realized that No. 3 is too warm toned and light for me. I’m keeping this shade!

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brows in 10, 20, 30, 40 swatches

I went to another Sephora today to swatch the rest of the shades to show you the other options. No. 10 is a great shade for lightest blondes to light brunettes. No. 20 will work with auburn hair. Both No. 30 and No. 40 are great options for medium to dark brunettes. Sorry guys, I swatched these the wrong way (too heavy), but this shows you the difference between the shades.

Although I have a lot of brow hair, they are an awful shade of grey that just doesn’t work for me. A little bit of brow corrector and boom! I look like a normal human being.

Before and After MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brow Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector in #40 Dark Brown Black

This is a game changer, you guys. I don’t say that often. Waterproof, sweat-proof brows with zero crunchiness. Hallelujah!

Now… say it with Jeremy!

Brows. Lashes. Lips. Frame the face.
(Hi, muscles.)

Lipstick Bandits: The One That Started The Obsession.

February 20, 2012 | 34 Responses

MAC Lipstick in Crosswires ($17.50) was one of the first to join my small lipstick army a couple of years ago. I truly believe it was my gateway drug to brighter, bolder lipstick (like OMG Impassioned!).

MAC Lipstick in Crosswires

At the time, I was obsessed with finding a lipstick to match what Leighton Meester was wearing here. I thought Crosswires was the perfect candidate.

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When I first put this on, I actually thought it was too bright that it was unwearable. Who was that person? Now this is one of my most wearable lipsticks. Perfect for the warmer months, when I’ll be wearing a fresh face more often. O hai, Spring, are you coming soon?

MAC Crosswires Lipstick

Anyways.

So long story short: MAC Lipstick Crosswires was bright, and now it’s wearable. Do we get that?

The only thing I don’t like about this — now that I’ve tried a kajillion and a half lipsticks — is the formula. My lips don’t really agree with the Cremesheen formula. While they impart amazing amount of pigment, they tend to suck the moisture out of my lips. So I make sure to layer balm underneath, or a moisturizing gloss on top.

I thought I might as well do a full look with this, taking Leighton Meester’s fresh face as inspiration.

Get the Look

For the eyes, pat on a shimmery light beige (MAC All That Glitters) on the lid. Using a tapered crease brush, apply a warm matte brown (MAC Soft Brown) to the crease. Follow with a taupe brown (MAC Coquette) to the crease to create a natural-looking shadow. On the outer corner of the lid, apply a matte chocolate brown (MAKE UP FOR EVER #17 Espresso) to create depth. Line the upper lash line with black liquid or gel liner (YSL Shocking) and wing out slightly. Line the top waterline with a black pencil. Line the bottom lash line with a shimmery taupe brown gel liner (MAC Added Goodness Fluidline).

I decided to add a few short and medium Ardell lash flares to add more volume and length on the outer corners before I used mascara.

For the cheeks, apply a coral blush to the apples of the cheeks (Tarte Blissful). Add a luminous pink highlight on the top of the cheeks (Marcelle Pink Fusion).

For the lips, apply coral lipstick (MAC Crosswires) straight from the tube for maximum colour intensity.

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